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USAF TPS team proves how ‘a dummy’ can save money

Air Force photograph by Christian Turner

Staff Sgt. Martin Ruemenapp, 412th Operations Support Squadron Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape instructor, loads a dummy Mar. 10 as part of a U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School Test Management Project (TMP) that involves modifying a C-12C in order to come up with a more cost-effective way of conducting dummy drop parachute testing for the Air Force.

In an Air Force setting that is locked on being financially-conscious and proactive under the current financial challenges, the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, at the request of the 418th Flight Test Squadron, is working with the squadron through the implementation of the school’s Test Management Project to come up with a more cost-effective way of conducting dummy drop parachute testing for the Air Force.

Test Management Projects give students hands-on experience and oversight of a real-test program during the year long course.

“The C-12C is much less expensive to operate compared to the C-130s and C-17s that this type of testing is usually conducted with. The test aircraft was a C-12C modified with the Dummy Unloading Mechanical Platform (DUMP) to facilitate the dummy drops,” said Capt. Phillip Hartnett, Air Force flight test engineer and USAF TPS Class 13B project lead. “This is the first time static line dummy drops have been conducted from a C-12C and this will provide the basis for conducting further static line testing using the C-12C. The end result will be significant cost savings for conducting this type of parachute testing.”

According to Hartnett, the team’s main objective for this test was to evaluate the C-12C DUMP system for static line dummy drops.

“[The configuration in the C-12C] allowed three dummies weighing between 185 and 350 pounds to be secured. Three 412th Operation Support Squadron test parachutists would slide a dummy onto a lift platform. When ready to deploy the dummy, the parachutists would lift the inboard side of the lift platform which caused the dummy to slide out of the aft door.” Hartnett said. “We cleared the C-12C static line dummy drop envelope from 1,500 feet [Above Ground Level] to 10,000 [Mean Sea Level] at airspeeds from 90 knots to 195 knots.”

Air Force photograph by Christian Turner

Three dummies weighing between 185 and 350 pounds were secured inside a C-12C on Mar. 10 as part of a Test Management Project through the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School in order to come up with a more cost-effective way of conducting dummy drop parachute testing for the Air Force.

Prior to the drops, the team noted that they had to undergo pre-test coordination before flying.

“Since there was only a single flight test phase for this TMP, there were pre-test events like a Test Plan Working Group, a Technical Review Board and a Safety Review Board that had to be accomplished leading to the execution of the flight test,” said Hartnett.

“Even though the C-12C is already used to conduct live free-fall jumps, this will potentially be used in the future to conduct actual parachute testing,” added Hartnett. “Dummies are used to mitigate risk to ensure the parachute deploys as expected prior to live jump testing occurs.”

During the planning and execution of this test, Hartnett mentioned there were a total of approximately 35 people who were contributing members and several different base organizations that were involved that included personnel from the 412th Test Wing, TPS, the 412th Range Squadron, 412th OSS, 412th TW Test Safety, 733rd Test Squadron, 418th FLTS, 412th Test and Engineering Group and L3 C-12C Maintenance.

“Since this was the first time this sort of testing has taken place, the safety process proved to be a challenge. Luckily, we had a very hard-working, cohesive team and our Logistics Lead Capt. Chris Nations and Safety Lead Capt. Joshua Duckett did excellent jobs ensuring the ground work was complete for a successful test,” said Hartnett. “We received tremendous support from all parties and would like to thank everyone involved.”

Air Force photograph by Christian Turner

412th Operations Support Squadron test parachutists use the Dummy Unloading Mechanical Platform (DUMP) to unload a dummy during a U.S. Air Force Test Pilot SchoolTest Management Project (TMP) on Mar. 13. The TMP involved TPS students coming up with a more cost-effective way of conducting dummy drop parachute testing for the Air Force.

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